STATE of the art technology will mean fans turning up to watch Salford in their £150m new stadium at Barton enter the ground simply by using their mobile phones to register their arrival.

STATE of the art technology will mean fans turning up to watch Salford in their £150m new stadium at Barton enter the ground simply by using their mobile phones to register their arrival.

Turnstiles and even swipe cards, as used at the City of Manchester Stadium at Eastlands, will be redundant with supporters merely having to hold their handsets up against a recorder at the stand entrances.

And any Salford Reds supporters who do not have a mobile by the time the City of Salford Stadium opens in May 2006 have no need to worry. They will be given one by the club!

The 20,000-seater stadium at the opposite side of the M60 to the Trafford Centre goes before Salford's planning committee next month. Peel Holdings, which own some of the land nearby have objected but the developers are supremely confident the plans will get the go-ahead particularly as they say over 6,000 jobs will be created.

"It is written into the planning application that 80 per cent of those jobs will go to local people."

If permission is given by the Town Hall work could start on the new stadium in May next year. As well as being the base for the newly promoted Reds, the complex will boast a 208-bed hotel, a conference centre able to host 1,700 people plus a casino and restaurant.

Initially the retail units for "bulky non food goods" will be developed. Profits from the shopping outlets will partly fund the rest of the development.

Mr Thomas, who along with Salford chairman John Wilkinson, has studied modern stadia in the US and Australia, said the mobile phone technology will be a world first.

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As well as being able to gain access to the stadium and get billed later, fans will receive up-to-the-minute team news and club offers.

He said: "Through this technology, we will be able to log what food was ordered by a particular individual and then at the next match contact him or her to ask if they want the same delivered to their seat.

"We have been able to learn about what goes on elsewhere in the world to ensure what happens here in Salford will be the most efficient and most fan friendly."

He added: "It's time Manchester had a rugby power base. We don't know at this stage whether we will have any other sport at Barton other than rugby league, but maybe we could shape the future of both codes of rugby. Who knows?"

With Wilkinson and the rest of the Salford hierarchy determined to make their mark in history and make the momentous move to Barton there is a giant question mark over the future use of the current Willows ground.

Wilkinson remains adamant nothing has been decided about what part of the Willows - if any - will remain, although it is understood the Council does have long-term redevelopment plans.